Car plant gives HIV fight wheels
The mobile clinic, which forms part of a fleet of 13 that will be used in the province's 11 districts, was designed by Toyota SA Motors.
The province’s fight against HIV/Aids received a boost from Toyota South Africa on Tuesday, 24 March.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Senzo Mchunu received a prototype of a mobile clinic at an official hand-over to the KZN government by Toyota SA CEO, Dr Johan van Zyl at Toyota’s manufacturing plant in Prospecton.
The mobile clinic, which forms part of a fleet of 13 that will be used under Operations Sukuma Sakhe in the province’s 11 districts, was designed by Toyota SA Motors as part of the company’s contribution to assist government’s drive to provide duality healthcare to rural communities.
Premier Mchunu approached Toyota SA’s senior vice-president of corporate, Andrew Kirby last year about the the development and customisation of the vehicles to combat HIV/Aids in the province.
“HIV/Aids is nothing to be ashamed of,” said Dr Van Zyl at the hand-over. “This contribution is made from the Toyota family to our KZN family and we hope it will make a difference in the fight against HIV/Aids.”
Premier Mchunu said health issues have become a priority, which features in the province’s plan for economic growth in KZN.
“We need to respond to the scourge of HIV/Aids,” he said in thanking Toyota SA and everyone involved uin the project.
“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the conversion of the vehicle. We are taking the fight against this scourge to another level and we have given it wheels.”
The vehicles, which will be used to test for HIV/Aids and hand-out antiretrovirals, were unveiled to the public at Nkandla on Wednesday, 25 March, where 9,000 of the district’s 36,000 residents live with HIV/Aids.
